Soprano Edita Gruberová has Died, Aged 74

After a five-decade career, the coloratura soprano passed away in Zurich from an accidental head injury

Born in Rača, Bratislava in 1946, Gruberová began studying music at the Bratislava Conservatory with Mária Medvecká. She later became a singer in the Lúčnica folk ensemble and appeared many times in the Slovak National Theatre.

With a singing career spanning over 50 years, Gruberová performed many major coloratura roles and lyric soprano repertoire well into her 70s. In her final staged opera performances, she played Elizabeth I in “Roberto Devereux” at the Bayerische Staatsoper in 2019. 

She officially retired from the stage in September 2020, partly because of delays and canceled performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Making her operatic debut in 1968, Gruberová two years later gave a critically acclaimed performance as Queen of the Night in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” with the Wiener Staatsoper. 

In 1972, she became a member of the Vienna State Opera and also sang at the Teatro alla Scala, Bayerische Staatsoper, and Opernhaus Zurich, among others.

Gruberová made her international breakthrough in a 1976 performance as Zerbinetta in Filippo Sanjust’s new production of "Ariadne auf Naxos," conducted by Karl Böhm. 

Her discography amounts to around 180 CDs and DVDs, recorded with labels such as Teldec, EMI, Orfeo, and her own label Nightingale Classics, among others.

In 1980, she was honored as an Austrian Kammersängerin and became an Honorary member of the Vienna State Opera in 1988. This year, she was recognized for Lifetime Achievement at the International Classical Music Awards. 

Our condolences to Ms. Gruberová’s family, friends, and colleagues.

W.A. MOZART | THE MAGIC FLUTE | QUEEN OF THE NIGHT | EDITA GRUBEROVÁ | DAS BAYERISCHE ATAATSORCHESTER & WOLFGANG SAWALLISCH